The parents of a premature baby born weighing just half a bag of sugar and who fitted snugly into the palm of a hand, are preparing to wave her off for her first day at pre school.

Amelia Webb was born premature at 26 weeks and six days weighing jsut 1lb 1oz. Now she is rpeparing to start Littleport pre school. Photo: Leanne Webb

Amelia Webb was born at 26 weeks and six days weighing 1lb 1oz after scans showed she had oesophageal atresia, where her stomach was not connected to her throat.

Amelia Webb was born premature at 26 weeks and six days weighing jsut 1lb 1oz. Now she is rpeparing to start Littleport pre school. Photo: Leanne Webb

She was not getting the nutrition she needed from her mum’s placenta so a decision was made for a caesarean section.

Amelia Webb was born premature at 26 weeks and six days weighing jsut 1lb 1oz. Now she is rpeparing to start Littleport pre school. Photo: Leanne Webb

Her mum Leanne Webb, 28, said: “It was frightening. We didn’t know if she would make it, yet now here we are preparing for nursery.

Amelia Webb was born premature at 26 weeks and six days weighing jsut 1lb 1oz. Now she is rpeparing to start Littleport pre school. Photo: Leanne Webb

“I’ve had my moments since she has been born, it’s been a roller coaster, but I want to say to parents of premature babies take each day as it comes.

Amelia Webb was born premature at 26 weeks and six days weighing jsut 1lb 1oz. Now she is rpeparing to start Littleport pre school. Photo: Leanne Webb

“Amelia still has a feeding tube into her intestine so staff are being trained on how to deal with this and although I’m nervous about seeing her go it is also a good milestone.”

Amelia Webb in her uniform ready to start Littleport pre school nursery

An independent and happy character little Amelia, who starts Littleport Primary next month, a few weeks short of her third birthday in December, is developing well but is still tiny weighing just 23lb, the weight of an average 18 month old.

Leanne said Amelia was at Addenbrooke’s for six months and did not have her first hold until she was nine days old.

“At three months old she had her first operation to have a feeding tube in stomach and at five months her second operation called an oesophagostomy.

“Her third operation was at 21 months at Great Ormond Street where her stomach was moved into her chest area and was connected to her oesophagus.

“At 29 months she had her fourth operation at Addenbrooke’s to have a feeding tube into the intestine.

“She can eat puree food but since suffering tonsillitis is not keen to eat, but she will get there.

“She is small compared to other children but apart from that is developing normally. We feel very lucky.”

During the first month of her life Leanne and her partner Alan stayed at Chestnut House, a place where parents can stay in a home to home setting, funded by the charity, the Sick Children’s Trust.